Felcher named inaugural fellow of Neutron Scattering Society of America
ARGONNE, Ill. (July 9, 2007) — Gian Piero Felcher, retired senior physicist
in the Materials Science Division of the U.S. Department of Energy's
Argonne National Laboratory, has been named an inaugural fellow of the Neutron
Scattering Society of America (NSSA).
The NSSA selected Felcher for pioneering the development of neutron
reflectometry and demonstrating its application to magnetic and polymer film systems. Neutron
reflectometry involves shining parallel rays of neutrons onto a very flat surface
and measuring the intensity of reflected radiation as a function of the beam
angle.
Neutron reflectometry has come to be a popular way to study chemical aggregation,
polymer adsorption, and the structures of thin film magnets and biological
membranes. Felcher's development of the first polarized neutron reflectometer
in 1984 was recognized by a 1987 Industrial Research 100 award. Most of his
research focused on magnetism and polymer science.
“Gian Felcher's sustained record of major achievements in the fields of neutron
scattering and condensed matter and materials physics is formidable and worthy
of the highest praise,” said nominators Ray Osborn and Suzanne te Velthuis
(both MSD). “He is an exceptionally clever scientist and has pursued a richly
rewarding research path. He is a shining light in our research community and
deserves recognition.”
Felcher worked at Argonne for more than 40 years. From 1966 until 1987, he
was employed as a physicist in the Solid State Division. For the past 20 years
until his retirement in February, he held the title of Senior Physicist in
the Materials Science Division.
Since 1991, Felcher has also served as an Associate Editor for the Journal
of Applied Physics and has won a number of other awards, including a 1986
Department of Energy prize for “outstanding research in solid state physics” and
a 1999 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Award.
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For more information, please
contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
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